Improvement in washing-machines



J. B. READ.

Improvement in Washing-Mach'i'n es.

Patented 0m. 8, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES B. READ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES B. READAYD AMOS J. MIGHENER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,105, datedOctober 8, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. READ, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an ImprovedWashing-Machine, of which the following is a specification The object ofmy invention is mainly to insure the thorough and rapid cleansing ofclothing, &c., by simultaneously rubbing and forcing currents of water,or of water and air, through the same; and I accomplish'this object bycombining a pump, A, with a washing-machine, B, in the manner plainlyshown by the vertical section in the accompanying drawing, the pumpbeing operated simultaneously with the reciprocation of a segmentalrubbing bed, D, against which the clothing is held with any requireddegree of pressure by a vertically-yielding rubber, E, currents ofwater, or of water and air, being forced through the perforated falsebottom F of the machine, and into and through the mass of clothing onthe downward stroke of the pump, and water being drawn from the body ofthe machine and through the clothing in a reverse direction on theupward stroke of the said pump.

I have found that this forcible ejection of currents upward and downwardthrough the mass of clothing rapidly removes the particles of dirt whichhave been loosened by the rubbing operation.

If it is desired to pump water only to and from the machine and throughthe mass of clothing an ordinary pump will suffice; but the labor ofworking the pump is much reduced and as good results are obtained byconstructing it, as shown in the drawing, so as to pump both water andair.

The pump has a hollow piston-rod, a, open at both ends, and furnishedwith a valve, b, opening downward, and closing a small aperture, d. Whenthe pistonv is elevated the valve b will be opened, and air will passdown through the hollow piston-rod and enter the pump-barrelsimultaneously with the water, which enters the bottom of the latterfrom the washing machine. On the downward stroke of the pump the valve bwill be closed,

D receives its motion from the cross-headi of the pump through themedium of connectingrods j and arms k.

In large apparatus to be driven by power, and intended for hotel orlaundry use, two or more pumps may be combined with one machine.

Both rubbers, D and E, are furnished with rollers or rounded slats m,which may be either movable or stationary, and the upper rubber E isarranged to slide in vertical guides 19, so that it may beself-accommodating to the thickness of the mass of clothes; and it isfurnished with a trough or receptacle, q, in which weights may beplaced, in order to obtain the required pressure upon the clothes.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a washing-machine, havingrubbing apparatus constructed and operating substantially as described,with a pump or pumps, for the purpose of impelling the water both upwardand downward through the clothes, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a washing-machine, of a pump and valve, orequivalent devices, arranged and operating so as to force both air andwater through the clothes, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. READ.

Witnesses WM. A. STEEL, HARRY W. DOUTY.

